Camera synchronizer



2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 7, 1943. s. MENDELsoHN CAMERA sYNcHRoNIzER Filed oct. 18, 1941 i ME/VDZZS/f/V ).7 MCGHLL BY ATTORNEY plied by dry cell batteries.

` the provision oi a camera Patented Sept. 7, 1943A 2.32am cantas srsonaomzsa umana. ma ramp x.

Samuel Mendelsohn,

McGall. Orange. N. J.:

said Mendelsohn IaldMoGllllllllWlto Applicaties october 1s, 1941, sensi No. 41am f' s claims. (c1. sv-zs) The present invention relates to what is now commonly referred to in the art as a camera synchroniser for opening a camera shutter simultaneously with .the moment of peak intensity of a phototlash lamp and may be said to constitute an improvement over the structure as sh'own in Patent No. 2,204,424, issued June ll, 1940. to S. Mendelsohn. one of the present joint inventors.

In all present types of camera synchronizers the electrical energy for igniting the photoash lamp, and for energizing a solenoid when the camera shutter is electrically operated, is sup- Since such batteries too frequently wear out in a comparatively short period of time this has proven to be a source of annoyance to the newspaper photographer or candid camera fan necessitating their keeping spare batteries on hand at all times lest those in the synchronizer go dead at a moment when it is desired to take an important photograph of a non-recurring sceneor object.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a camera synchroniser which requiresno batteries for supplying electrical energy for igniting the photoiiash lamp or causing opening of the camera shutter.

`Another object of the present invention is the provision oi y,a camera synchronizer wherein a source of electrical energy is provided for igniting the photaash lamp or causing opening of the camera shutter which has a useful life comparable to that of the synchroniser itself.

A further object of the present invention is synchroniser which is provided with an integral electrical generator of indefinite life which supplies the required electrical energy for igniting the photoilash lamp or causing opening of the camera shutter.

Still further objects oi .the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings.- wherein:

Fig. i is an elevational view in section of a camera synchroniser constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the same as mechanically operable to cause opening of the camera shutter:

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the generator portion loi the camera synchroniser shown in Fig. l illustrating one operating position oi' the apparatusif Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a further operating position ci the electrical generator portion ofthe camera synchroniser of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is afragmentary view of a modiilcation which the camera synchronizer oi thepresent invention may take:

Figs. 5 to 8 each show still further modifications which the camera synchronizer may take;

Figs. 9 to l2 show various operating positions of another modification, and

Fig. 13 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 1 but showing electrical operation of the camera shutter.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the camera synchronizer therein shown comprises a casing 8 closed at one end by an end cap or the like 8 and the opposite open end being pro- A vided with a spring contact terminal 1 carried by an insulated block 8, and a metal clip I thus forming a socket for a photoiiash lamp Il. Also secured to the casing B is a bracket l2 which adiustably supports a reilector I3.

An electric generator in the form oi a permanent magnet I4 provided with a winding I5 is disposed within the casing I with one end of the winding being grounded to the metallic casing I as at i6 so as to establish connection through the cliplto the shell of the photoash lamp III. while the other end of the winding l5. as shown in Fig. 1. is connected directly to the spring contact terminal 1. As will be noted from the several ilgures the permanent magnet il is provided with pole pieces I1 above and below the winding i5 and an amature IB is maintained in iloating condition in the magnetic field of the winding with its ends passing through each of the pole pieces i1.

Extending transversely of the casing 5 is a hollow housing I0 for a slidable plunger 22 having a thumb button 2i exteriorly of the housing. A cable release 2l surrounding a Bowden wire 25 is adjustably connected to the opposite end of the housing III which connects to the camera shutter 26 in the customary manner. A coil spring 21 is also disposed within the housing 2li for the purpose of preventing lost motion of the plunger 2L A notch ll is provided in the housing 2B to enabley the armature IB to extend therethrough and into a slot 29 provided in the plunger 22. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that in the normal or cockerlI position of the synchronizer the armature IB is attracted to the upper left hand and lower right hand pole pieces I1, with the magnetic flux flowing through the armature Il from the pole piece oi positive polarity to the one of negative polarity, or from thernorth to the south pole. when it xe desired te me e photograph the operator depresses the thumb button 2l which moves the plunger 22 thus compressing slightly the spring 21 and moving the Bowden wire 28. By the time the plunger has moved so that the shoulder formed at the end of the slot 22 engages the armature il. as shown in Fig. 2. the camera shutter 26 will be opened since the cable release connection with the housing 2l is so adjusted relative to the length of the slot 29 that such action takes place.

Further depression of the plunger 22 by the operator overcomes the magnetic torce with the result that the metauic contact between the armature Il and the upper and lower pole pieces I1 is broken very abruptly. This breaking of the metallic contact accordingly induces an electrical impulse in the winding II and since the armature rotates about an imaginary pivot (or fixed insulated pivot if desired) an additional impulse is induced as a metallic contact is established between the upper right and lower lei't hand pole pieces il. as shown in Fig. 3. with the ow o! magnetic ilux being now in an opposite direction through the armature il.

Inasmuch as the camera shutter 28 was opened at about the instant t-he plunger 22 moved the full length oi the slot 22. the electrical impulses generated by further movement of the plunger and rotation of the amature I8 are transmitted directly to the photoash lamp I through the socket connecting clip l and terminal l. thus igniting the lamp Il; Moreover, since the photoe dash lamp Il reaches its maximum peak intensity in an extremely short period of time. ranging from about micro-seconds to 20 iilllseconds. it can be readily seen that complete opening of the camera shutter is very readily synchronized with the moment o! peak intensity merely by proper adjustment of the connection o! the cable release 2l with the housing 2li.

In the modification as shown in Fig. 1. the spring 21 is such that its tension is insuillcient, even when compressed by depression of the plunger 22 in the vtaking oi a photograph, to return the plunger to the cocked position by overcoming the magnetic force tending to hold the armature Il in the position as shown in Fig. 3. Consequently in order to condition the synchroniser itis necessary that it be again "cocked" by the operator pulling outwardly on the plunger thumb button 22, or the-plunger may be provided withan arm passlngthroughaslotllsuchas shown in the modincation'of Pig. 5.

Also various other trigger arrangements may be provided icr operating the synchroniser in lieu of the operator depressing the plunger button 2l. For example. a spring 28 may be provided between the underside oi' the button 2i and the casing t instead of interiorly of the housing 2l,

as shown in Figs. 4. 6 and 7. and the pivot bell l crank $4 and socket 25 of Fig. 6 provided ior moving the piston 22 by pulling on the bell crank lever Il.' VStill further a cam arrangement 21 suchasehowninl*ig 7.maybeutiliaed. In addition a construction'as shown in Fig. 8 may prove advantageous wherein a spring 2l is disposed within the housing 2l which is compressed upon "cooking" the plunger and stores suillcient potential energy to cause movement oi' both t-he plunger 22 and amature Il when a spring pressed catch 2l isreleased by a pulling action on the part of the operator.

In all of the modications thus far described, wherein manual "cooking" of the synchroniser tricai circuit.

is necessary prior to the taking ot a photographl there is always the possibility that should the photographer insert a photoilash lamp prior to "cocking it will be inadvertently ignited by the impulse generated attendant movement oi the armature toward "cocking position. To elimlnate this disadvantageous feature a structure as shown in Figs. 9 to 12 may be provided. This modiiicatlon diners from that of Figs. i to 3 merely in the provision of a switch arrangement which allows a circuit to be completed to the photoash lamp lll only when the synchronizer is in the "cock position.

AB shown in Figs. 9 to 12 the casing 5 is provided with an auxiliary housing lil enclosing a. pair of contacts l2 and 4I. The contact I2 is secured to the metallic casing 5 land thus forms part of the grounded metallic circuit to the clip l and the shell of the lamp I0, whereas the contact Il is carried by an insulated support 44 and is connected by a wire 45 to the opposite end of the winding il. instead of the latter being grounded as at I0 in Fig. 1.

In the normal "cock position of the synchronizer as shown in Fig. 9 these contacts are spaced relative to each other with the upper lnsulated end Il of the contact terminal t3 exteding through a slot 48 provided in the auxiliary housing 0in spaced relation with s. pin 41 carried by -the plunger 22.

By the time the plunger 22 has been depressed sufiiclently to cause the shoulder formed in the slot 29 to engage the end of armature i8, the pin 41 will have engaged the end of contact 43 and iexed it to the right into engagement with the contact I2, as shown in Fig. 10, t-hus completing the circuit to the photoash lamp' lil.4 Further depression of the plunger button 23 thus abruptly breaks metallic engagement oi the amature I l with the pole pieces I1 as above described, and since both the contacts ,I2 and 42 are resilient they yield to the right, as shown in Fig. 11, ailowing the plunger 22 to continue its movement to its limit oi travel without disengagement of the contact I2 and Il or interruption of the elec- However. when the operator re` moves his thum'b from the button 2l, the spring 21 together with the potential energy stored in the contacts 42 and 4I, returns the plunger 22 in the opposite direction until the right hand shoulder formed at 4the end oi' the slot 29 engages the armature Il such as shown in Fig. 12. Atthls time the pin 41 will likewise have moved suiiiciently to the left to allow separation of the contacts 42 and l2 thus breaking the electrical circuit. ,Consequently a new photoiiash lamp may be inserted in the socket prior to the synchronlaer being again cocked without iear of the lamp being inadvertently ignited by any impulse attendant movement of the armature, since the electrical circuit to the lamp ls not again completed until the plunger has started its movement in the shutter opening direction.

In the modincations above described the opening of the camerashutter is accomplished by mechanical movement. However. the present invention also contemplates the automatic ,opening of the camera shutter in response to the energicatlon of a solenoid, such ior'example as shown in Patent 2.204.424. issued June ll, 1940, to S. Mendelsohn, one oi the present tlc-inventors. Fig. i3 shows this latter type oi synchroniser wherein thecamera shutter 2l is opened in respouse movement oi" the amature lll oi' a solenoid I2, the latter of which is connected in electrical parallel with the photoash lamp I0. For example, a plug 53 may be inserted through an i opening 544 in the casing with the contacts of the plug establishing engagement with a pair of resilient contacts 55 and 58 connected, respectively, to the spring contact i and metallic casing 5.

It may also be advantageous in this particular embodiment to have the armature IB make and break its engagement with the pole pieces il twice thus not only automatically cooking the synchronizer preparatory to another exposure but in addition generating four rapid electrical impulses instead oi' two as in the previous modiilcations. This is readily accomplished merely by making the spring 51 of Fig. 13 oi sufficient strength that the energy storedtherein Aupon movement of the plunger will return the latter to its "cocked" position by overcoming the magnetic force tending to hold the armature to the right, as shown for example in Fig. 12.

From the foregoing it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that a synchronizer for opening a camera shutter simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity from a photofiash lamp is herein provided wherein the electrical energy for ignitlng the lamp is supplied by a selfcontained generator requiring no replacement. Moreover, the synchronizer may also be so constructed that the integral electrical generator supplies the energy both for igniting the photoflash lamp and for operating an electrical solenoid which automatically causes opening of the camera shutter. Consequently since batteries are completely dispensed with a photographer need not worry about carrying spares or his synchronizer failing to operate at a crucial moment through lack of suilicient electrical energy to operate.

Although several modifications of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that still further embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A camera synchronizer for opening a camera shutter simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity from a photoilash lamp comprising a casing, an electric generator in said casing including a magnet and a pivoted armature normally completing a magnetic circuit through said magnet and operable upon movement 'of said armature about its pivot to generate electrical energy and cause ignition of said photoflash lamp, and a plunger slidable in said casing engageable with said pivoted armature and connected to the camera shutter and operable upon depression thereof to iirst cause opening o! the camera shutter followed by abrupt breaking and making ot the magnetic circuit by movement oi said armature about its pivot to cause the resulting energy impulses to ignite said photoiiash lamp in synchronism with complete opening of the camera shutter.

2. A camera synchronizer for opening a camera shutter simultaneously with the moment oi.' peak intensity from a phototlash lamp comprising a casing, an electric generator in said casing including a magnet and apivoted armature normally completing a magnetic circuit'through said magnet and operable upon movement of said armature about its pivot to generate electrical energy of sumcient magnitude to ignite said photoiiash lamp, a housing extending transversely of said casing provided with an elongated opening through which one end of said armature pro'- jects, a plunger slidable in said housing and operable upon depression thereof to cause opening of the camera shutter, and said plunger having a slot provided with a shoulder engageable with said armature after partial movement thereof and following opening ot the camera shutter to cause movement of said amature about its pivot with abrupt breaking and making of said magnetic circuit and ignition of said photoiiash lamp by the ensuing energy impulses in synchronism withcomplete opening of said camera shutter.

3. A camera synchronizer for opening a camera shutter simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity from a photoilash lamp comprising a casing, an electric generator in said casing including a permanent magnet provided with pole pieces and having a pivoted armature normally completing a magnetic circuit between said pole pieces and a winding surrounding said armature for generating impulses ci suilicient magnitude to ignite a photoilash lamp upon breaking and making said magnetic circuit, a housing extending transversely o! said casing provided with an elongated opening through which one end oi' said armature projects, a plunger slidable in said housing and operable upon depression thereof to cause opening of the camera. shutter, said plunger having a'. slot provided with a. shoulder engageable with said amature after partial movement thereof and following opening of the camera shutter, and a. normally open switch carried by said casing and closeable by movement of said plunger in the shutter opening direction to connect said winding to said photoiiash lamp and to cause the impulses generated in said winding attendant the breaking and making oi said magnetic circuit by movement of said amature about its pivot to ignite said photonash lamp in synchronism with complete opening oi' the camera shutter.

SAMUEL MENDELSOHN. PHILIP K. MLGALL. 

